Capítulo 24: What Do You Want?
"Dear wife, you look stunning in that dress," Luca directly complimented her as Ayana stepped inside the living room. Ayana flinched as the goosebumps started to rise in some parts of her body every time Luca called her with such endearment. She was not used to hearing that from strangers. And Luca was definitely a stranger although they had become husband and wife.
Ayana looked at Luca as she sighed with a tired expression. The man was handsome as usual. Although tonight he became even more handsome with the black suit that fitted his body. The handkerchief on his chest and his tie have the same color as her dress.
Ayana felt a bit awkward when her eyes landed on the handkerchief. She was not used to a couple things like this. She then quickly tilted her head away. Her eyes scan the room, but she cannot find Irene's whereabouts, there was only Nicolaus, the butler who was standing beside Luca. Ayana found this situation a bit strange. She did not see Irene whereabout. That woman should be here since the maid that called her earlier said that Irene was also waiting for her in the dining room.
"Where is Irene?" Ayana asked Nicolaus, ignoring Luca.
"Madam Irene has left for the Winter Family's residence first since Madam Brigitte wanted to meet her in advance, miss," Nico answered politely.
There was a bad hunch growing in Ayana's heart as she listened to the butler's explanation. She did not know what cause the uneasiness in her heart, but it was there.
"Did she only tell you that?' Ayana asked.
"Yes, miss, madam was in a hurry and told master Luca and miss to go together later," The butler said.
"Do you ask because you are afraid that we will be alone in the car, dear wife?" Luca suddenly appeared beside Ayana and whispered those words in her ears, making the girl shiver and hurriedly took a step away from the man.
She looked at the man with annoyance as she grumbled inwardly. Why did he do that? I wasn't deaf and still can hear his words clearly even if he talked from his original position.
"I-" Ayana was just starting to utter her complaint when Luca cut her sentence.
"It seems that my statement is totally wrong. You are definitely not afraid of me by the look in your eyes," Luca said as he stared deeply into Ayana's eyes.
Ayana felt that all the words were robbed from her. She was too stunned when looking into Luca's eyes.
"Let's go. We will be late if we go later than this," Luca said as he smoothly took Ayana's hand, leading her to the car that was waiting at the front door.
Ayana was caught off guard when the man took her hand. She was totally out of her mind as she stared at Luca's red eyes. The eyes look so mesmerizing but also scary. It was like diving into the dark hole inside the sea.
She flinched a little when Luca's cold hand touched her. Although this was not the first time they held hands. She was still amazed at how cold his hand could be and how calming his touch was on her skin.
Nicolaus followed the couple to the front door. In fact, before Irene left the house today, she told Nico to keep Ayana safe and always stay beside the girl. He understood the reason Irene ordered him to do this. The human maid who was alone with Luca last time was found with a cold body afterward.
Nico felt his hands become colder as they were getting closer to the car. Irene told him to sit near Ayana, which made him sternly refuse it directly when he heard her words. A butler or people in his position would never want to be the third wheel on the passenger seat. Although the car has a bigger space inside than the usual car and has a smaller place in front of the passenger seat where he could sit, still tried sitting there would be improper.
Irene then told him that if Luca refused, he could sit beside the driver after he told Luca that she was the one who ordered him to do this. But, if Luca allowed him, then he would sit there with them.
Nico prayed in his heart that Luca would refuse him to sit in the back seat since he was sure he cannot do anything even with his life on the line if Luca really wanted to kill the girl on the way to the Winter's residence.
Fortunately, as the butler wanted to step into the passenger seat, Luca blocked him.
"What do you mean by showing this kind of impudent behavior?" Luca's cold and stern voice was intimidating, unlike the kind tone he used when he talked to Ayana. The man was looking at Nicolaus with his eyebrows raised and seemed surprised.
Nico's body shivered as he quickly lowered his eyes.
"Madam Irene thinks that you will be uncomfortable with Miss Ayana alone and told me to keep you company, Master Luca," Nico said with a lower tone
He was sure that Ayana could still hear his voice, so he devised a white lie.
"That is stupid. Of course, I will be fine with my wife." Luca said so then signaled Nicolas to sit in the front seat before closing the door.
Nico sighed in relief as he quickly got in the front seat. The car left the castle after that.
Ayana was in a daze as she was sitting beside Luca in the car. She just realized that the man could actually divert her from her thoughts and lead her around easily. The man's soothing and cold hand makes her lose focus on what happened, but she won't tell the man about the soothing part.
"Is that some kind of hypnotism?" Ayana said while looking at Luca with suspicious eyes.
Since the compartment that separates the front and back seats were opened, Nico could clearly hear Ayana's voice. His body turned rigid, unable to imagine what could happen if Luca was mad. To his surprise, Luca was giggling.
"Pardon?" Luca asked, seemingly confused with how Ayana started the conversation.
"You successfully divert my thought and lead me to the car easily. You much have some kind of tricks like hypnotism and the like," Ayana explained
"Why should I do that, dear wife?" Luca asked in an amused tone.
"I don't know. There are many reasons for you to do that. It could be just for amusement? or to show off your power? To oppress me with your power? You can name it," Ayana said while staring into the man's eyes. She was bothered by the man's sweet and kind pretense. She needed a clue on how to face the man.
"Miss, I think…." Nico was trying to say something to ease the situation when Luca cut him off with his stern voice.
"Nico, pulled up the partition," Luca said, glaring at Nico from the rear-view mirror.
Nico then looked at Ayana with his pitiful gaze before he pulled up the divider. The butler then prayed for the human girl behind, although he never believed in God.
Ayana sighed since she did not need to hear Luca's sweet talk anymore. Ayana could guess that the man must have hated it since Irene kept an eye on him all the time and forced him to treat her nicely.
"Do you want some drink, sweetheart?" Luca's unexpected, sweet voice makes goosebumps all over Ayana's body. She was not ready to hear Luca use another cringy endearment especially since they were alone.
She thought the man would act curt and even sinister after Nico and the driver were gone. Now that they are alone, why did the man still pretend to sweet-talk her? Ayana looked at Luca with confused and hopeless eyes. She really cannot predict what the man thought.
"What do you want, dear wife? Water, juice, beer…."
"What do you want?" Ayana asked with a stern voice, still staring at Luca, trying to guess the man's mind.
"I prefer gin, but we should not drink that now, maybe we can drink that after we go back," Luca said as he looked inside the mini-fridge inside the car.
"I do not talk about the drink," Ayana said after a few seconds' pause.
"What is it about then?" Luca asked, turning to Ayana with a relaxed smile.
"This. You. Your strange behavior. What is your purpose in pretending to be kind to me?" Ayana pointed out.
"Should there be a reason to act kindly to my own wife?" Luca asked with a confused look
Ayana was speechless when she heard the words wife from the man's mouth and with that kind of loving tone. She didn't know what she should do for the man to stop this kind of play.
"Can we stop this? What exactly do you want from me?" Ayana said as she moved her body, facing Luca completely.
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